The old dilemma...auto or manual

I plan on buying a CPO low mileage 14' or maybe a new '15 GT in about a year so I have time to mull this over. I've been driving a manual car since the 80s so skill is not an issue.

I plan on driving the car 2 or 3 times a week, maybe once to work then tooling around on the weekend. No plans to drag race or track it but I like to row gears and put it through the paces. I never rev and drop the clutch, just not my style. Are the manuals reasonably reliable? Generally, how long does a clutch last?

I don't mind doing some mods like adding a shifter bracket or other things to improve the shifting. In fact, I love to tinker with bolt on stuff.

Am I going to notice a big difference in performance from auto to manual? I don't encounter much stop and go traffic so commuting is not a problem.

GenX - I see no reason in your description to even consider an automatic.

If you aren't drag racing it or getting a little lurch on all your upshifts because the revs aren't matched, there's little reason to expect rapid clutch wear - you can get these cars rolling from at or nearly at idle rpm much of the time, adding throttle only after you've started to move. And if you shift with reasonable care, maybe think endurance racer vs drag racer here, you shouldn't have any issues with the transmission.

Thanks for the input everyone. My main concern here is trans longevity. I have been leaning toward the manual but have read about some issues with the manuals. Seems to be more with the '11-'12 models from what I have read. Hopefully Ford ironed out the '14 and '15.

go auto
i have driven over 1000 000 miles in my life..have driven ferraris bentleys ect..
never ever have i driven a car with such a noisy notchy gearbox..terrible unpredictable clutch..
i had 2 manuals and hated both...i drive my bosses manual bmw and audi a lot..the mustang felt nasty in comparison...clutch pedal travel is so long aswell..unless u got long legs stay well away

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